Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Now that the Carolina Panthers' logo has changed, what about the team uniforms?

If you're a traditionalist, you'll be happy with the answer to that question. If you're wanting something wild and different from a team that hasn't altered its uniforms since it began play in 1995, you won't.

"I don't anticipate any changes at all in the uniforms," Charlie Dayton, the Panthers' team spokesman, said Tuesday.

The logo will be incorporated into the helmets and jerseys, of course. But that's about it. There had been much speculation to the contrary, prompted partly by the NFL's decision to change uniform makers in 2012 (from Reebok to Nike) and partly (I believe) wishful thinking. Anyway, it's apparently not happening. (And those "new Panther uniforms" that people keep sending me links too? Those are artists' concepts, nothing more. Don't be fooled -- they're fakes).

I asked Dayton several other questions about the logo - whether it will be installed at the 50-yard line instead of the NFL shield, when it will be installed atop Bank of America Stadium and so on - but he said he didn't have those answers yet because much still is to be determined.

• I very much appreciate everyone who reads this blog. A couple of stats: I've been writing the blog since 2008, and I have filed about 1,300 blog posts during the past four years total.

And do you know which of those 1,300 posts ranked No. 1 in clicks - and it's not even close? It was my blog post Sunday night that revealed the Panthers' new logo.

Do that many people really care about the Panthers' logo, which like the uniforms had not been altered since the team started playing in 1995? Apparently so.

• My opinion? I'm cool with this Un-Extreme Makeover. The tweaks are subtle. More blue. More rounded teeth. Slightly different eyes.

But the online comments? Oh my. Many seem to love it or hate it. They either say the panther looks fiercer and more aggressive or that he looks like he has a fat lip and a lazy eye.

"I like the new logo - gives a more 3D look which will bode well for television," one commenter wrote.

Countered someone who hated it: "It looks like Sir Purr went to a Lady Gaga concert."

To me, as another commenter wrote, it matters a lot more who the Panthers put inside those uniforms and helmets than what sort of logos are on them. But it does make for interesting offseason fodder, I guess.

The question about the Panthers logo at midfield is one that has been asked over and over again. It's been asked here and almost anytime there's a Q&A with one of the other columnists. So @Anonymous 4:06 you are wrong there. Regarding the uniforms, I'm not sure the Panthers really know either. I think we've all seen the mockups or "leaks" (whether they are valid or not is a different story). It would be nice to see some variation. I've always liked the Black Jersey on Silver pants, but hate the white on white. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

It would make no sense at all to make such a subtle change to the logo and not also change the uniforms. Seriously, from a short distance the new and old logos will look the same. I can't imagine the uniforms aren't changing.

I think they need to go with Black Helmets and @ least a combination of a black uniform (i.e. Black pants with the teal stripe) to match the black jersey. Just for the antimadation factor alone... We are a different team now with a different style of play. I new look altogether, is appropriate!

We will have new uniforms, how different? Only Nike and the Panthers know. Plus the Panthers are not allowed to say anything until Reebok contract is up. Nike takes over April 1st and are expected to release them then. A Nike rep has stated that the Panthers and Seahawks are the two teams that will have new Nike uniforms.

NIKE is taking over as the NFL uniform providers this upcoming season. If you have seen the Oregon Ducks change their uniforms every year, then you know that the NFL uniforms WILL be different next year. I mean, why would NIKE take over for Reebok and not change the Reebok style? The typeface of the new logo is complete garbage...What was wrong with the typeface we already had? It was original! Now the new typeface is completely ugly.

There was a point in time, maybe after the super bowl season, where I saw some images of a SILVER Panthers Jersey leaked. Silver with Blue outlining white letters and numbers. That's always stuck in my mind as somehting they should do!

The uniforms don't have to change much but they do need to be more traditional. Straighten the stripes out on the pants. Remove the off-color collar on the neck. Reconsider all the silver and white together (as others have noted. Think Packers, Alamaba and simplicity. This is sports, not a fashion show.

But if you're going to change the logo, why go half-way? Hopefully they've cleaned up the uniforms and won't have to go back in 5 years and rile people up a second time.

I would like to see them wear the Panther blue jersey's on a regular basis, rather than the black. Wear the black as the alternate.As for the white on white uniforms being the ugliest in the league, as one of you wrote, Cincinnati has the ugliest by far.

FYI, the original plan for the Panthers' helmet was to be blackuntil the league said it was too 'gang-oriented" and shot it down, only to see the Jaguars come out with black helmets after their original design was determined to be too close to the Jaguar Automobile design.

He can say what he wants, the new uniforms are in production and just gogle nike panther new uniforms to see them, black hemet and all, I love them............they just dont want to ruin the NFL announcement with Nike so they deny

All those complaining about wishing Hurney and company would spend more time worrying about the draft and make-up of the team instead of changing the logo need to realize that Hurney and personnel folks are worrying about the draft and team, There are others in the organization that worry about the logo etc...SO RELAX!

I don't see any way the uniforms don't change next year. There is one, and only one reason why teams redesign their uniforms... and that is money! New uniforms = new sales. Cam Newton jerseys were flying off the shelves all season and if they change the uniforms, all those will be obsolete and a whole lot of those folks will be plunking down another $80 - $100 bucks to replace them!

It's the same reason the NFL changes the sidelines hats every season.

They learned it from NASCAR, where special, one race paint schemes means more collectable sales.

The new Logo on the jersey and helmet is the "uniform change"!!I could care less about the minor changes in the stripes or whatever, I am just glad we are finally entering into a new era with the logo and the uniform (with the new logo!) because at what point, and how many years go by that we will want to look back and say (oh yeah, that was the old Panthers...) ie. Throwback Jerseys! This is about 8 years overdue! I printed out the new logo and have it hanging right in from of me at my desk. It really grows on you, and looking side by side the old logo looks so dated! Great job- to whoever made the logo change!Go Cats!!!!

They have got to change the uniforms. Think a-la Atlanta after they drafted Vick. They changed their log and uniforms b/c it was a new era for the franchise. We should do the same. We're moving to a new manufact. of the jersey's so it's perfect timing to alter our jerseys. Get rid of the all white combo....it's looks way too soft. At the very least, we need black pants with a white, blue, and black jerseys. Contrary to what some have said, the new logo looks sweet on a black helmet (I've seen mock-ups). I've even seen it on white helmets. Bottom line, get rid of the silver helmets, and update the uniforms to a more modern look.

anonymous 10:36PM, I DID google it and came up with nothing official. There is one site with a picture labled as "Someone, somewhere threw together some concept uniforms for the NFL." So that means little.

Oh, and Steve Thompson, I read that post on Pigskinbuzz and even they cite reports that there will NOT be changes. In any case, I'd bet there will be changes, but I wouldn't be reading too much into any pictures currently making the rounds of the internet. If it doesn't come straight from either the Nike or the Panthers websites... it may very well be pure speculation.

Stop whining about the Panthers needing to spend more time on personnel and less on the uniforms. The Panthers had NOTHING to do with this. There is an entire department in the NFL offices in NYC that works on this stuff.

I like the old logo, but I like the new one as well. Just small changes; I'm fine with them.

As for the uniforms, lots of people like the white ones, including other teams. The only uniform we wear that I hate is the blue jersey and the silver pants. Whoever came up with that idea was either sloppy drunk or high on 8 hits of LSD at the time.

I would be fine with the white pants all the time, with the blue, white or black jerseys. I could live with black pants with the blue jerseys too. No black on black; that would look too much like a high school uniform.

Think about it this way...........the Panthers are going to have to change the uniforms regardless b/c the blue is a different shade now. They would be stupid to leave the design of the uniform the same and just update the colors. No one wants to see our old uniform with a different shade of blue. Think about how stupid it would look to see all of the new colored jersey's mixed in with the exact same jersey's with the old blue? At least a new style jersey would off-set the color difference.

This just seems like a ploy by the Panthers to avoid another leak ahead of a scheduled uniform release. A friend of mine works for the Panthers and said the Panthers were pissed at Nike for releasing the gloves that leaked the logo b/c they had a big press event scheduled to release the logo in a few weeks, followed by a new uniform release in April. Which is when Nike's new contract with the NFL goes into affect.

Like the guys says above, it would make no sense for them to change the color and logo and not update and alter the uniforms. They need to be updated for sure!

All these people wanting black helmets and black pants are the same dingbats that tint their windows black and put black rims on their cars. They think it looks "thuggish" and cool. Hate to tell you it looks stupid and "low class".

I dont believe anyone can look at the color combos on the new logo slick and not think wow the logo on the black looks at the very least interesting. Personally i think it looks awesome and think the panthers should make the transition to black uniforms similar to the ravens. The mascot is in fact a panthers so if there is no change at least wear the black uniforms more than four times a season.

New logo has no energy. Needs dynamics. Looks like an angry house cat. Too many curved lines; bottom jaw/lip looks ridiculous - modify to reflect power, movement, fierceness. Please look at other fonts - looks like a typeface for a cheap courier service.

As to the unis, why the uproar? Certainly they will change some as Nike isn't going to simply provide what Reebok was providing. All the banter about black/white/ blue/grey is non-sense. The white on white are classics and don't need to be toyed with. I like the alternate blue unis, and could see those becoming the new home standard, but at the cost of having a new, (hopefully not too)horrific alternate appear.

Hopefully Richardson keeps some sense of tradition in whatever is selected. This is the NFL. This is not NFL Europe, the CFL, the Arena League, the UFL, the XFL or Div I College football. If you want to entertain kids and women with outlandish color schemes then change the mascot. Leave the unis alone...

I disagree. The white makes our team look soft. If anything, switch to black pants. As for the jersey, it is a bit dated. The blue trim around the neck of the black jersey's has never looked good. modernize the uniforms, add a few tweaks. Take advantage of the switch to Nike. We need to take advantage of Cam Newton and usher in a new era with a new attitude, log, and uniforms! GO PANTHERS!!!

The same fools that love the all white uniforms are the same idiots that like white shoes with NFL uniforms. People want uniforms that are simple, yet stylish, with an intimidation factor. Just like the Raiders silver and black have stood the test of time. The mock-up of black pants with a white or blue top look really good. Don't drop the ball on this, Panthers. Make a change to the uniforms. Those blue collars on the black jerseys are horrendous! I've always disliked that,even though the black jersey is my favorite.

I have a friend who works an agency that does a lot of marketing consulting work for the Panthers. Apparently there will sort of be changes to the uniforms. The white road uniform will be worn with silver pants and the black top/silver pants home uniform will be used as alternate worn 1-2 times per season. The blue top/silver pants uniform will be the new home uniform. He also said there is another alternate - but it is just a new color pants with the same jersey.

Wow, Scott Fowler with another groundbreaking scoop! "Panthers make changes to logo that aren't visible to naked eye."As usual, Scott, you've done it again.You make Les Nesman look like a newshawk!Will you write a book about the history of the Panthers' logo?

The Logo has always been a poor design. Now it is even worse. I'm not a Pathers fan, just a graphic artist that cringes when he sees this. Your best NFL logos are generally the more subdued, simpler ones. Colts, Giants, Bears, Packers, Chargers, Jets... Logos like Patriots, Panthers, Bucs, Titans and Ravens border on ridiculous cartoons, not strong trademarks.

So the logo is changed, but not the uni's (Helmet included?). No change = still Arena League uni's. I still get ill when I see highlights of them and the SeaSlugs in the '05 NFC (NFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME). Guh v. blech.

We are changing sponsors. And here's why..... I called a couple days ago to the panthers shop and asked if I could return a shirt for a Smaller size but hey said they didn't have any more and they could give me a gift card for 1/2 the value and told me not to use it yet cause they are switching sponsors in April and are getting in New Nike apparel.

Why not get a more livlier logo,one that looks like a real Panther Head? He made his point with the connection of Wofford College in South Carolina and the team being in North Carolina when he gave the name of Carolina Panthers rather than Charlotte Panthers. The logo is the fakest looking in the league.Take a look at the Jaguar logo,looks like a real Jaguar not animated!

I would like to see change but regardless what jerseys they wear or will have it comes down to wins. Cam is one of biggest stars in nfl right now so why wouldn't nike and nfl and panthers try to jump on bandwagon and cash in while he is top of world prob gonna be on madden cover in new uniform